City of New Orleans (song)

The original English version has been widely covered, including by (in 1971), The Seldom Scene (in 1972), Johnny Cash (in 1973), Jerry Reed (in 1975), and Judy Collins (in 1975). Denver's version had a different bridge and a few other lines altered, and some other cover artists have copied these changes. More recently, it has been covered by David Hasselhoff (using a combination of Goodman and Denver's lyrics) and Canadian singer Roch Voisine (in both English and French). New Orleans songwriter, pianist and singer Allen Toussaint included "City of New Orleans" in his concert performances, including the recorded 2010 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

John Denver

German lyrics have been written for Goodman's melody at least three times. The first version was Austrian singer 's 1973 "Ein Zug genannt City of New Orleans" (A Train Named …). The second, closely following Cox's Dutch version, was used in a 1974 release by Ronny, "Einmal vergeht der schönste Sommer" (Once Passes [Even] the Prettiest Summer). Thomas Woitkewitsch's 1975 lyrics have been used by a number of artists, including Rudi Carrell in 1973, Creme 21 in 1996, and Indira Weis in 2009 (for all of which see above),^[11] as well as by Dieter Thomas Kuhn in 1995,^[11] Die Lollipops in 2001, and Leonard in 2012.

Jonny Hill

In 1972, American singer recorded a French version, "Salut les Amoureux" (Hello Lovers),^[17] re-using the melody but changing the lyrics completely. Dassin sings the last line of the chorus a fourth lower than the original on a conventional IV-V-I chord progression. Damien Poyard recorded this version on his 2015 CD "Un parfum de folie" (A scent of madness). Canadian Roch Voisine recorded an English/French version which appears his album Americana. Quebecoise country singer Guylaine Tanguay recorded this version on her 2022 album "Vos coups de coeur à ma façon."

Joe Dassin

Gerard Cox's Dutch version has been parodied a number of times, including by Cox himself in 1973 and by Farce Majeure in 1986 (both times as "'t Is weer voorbij die mooie winter"), and by Wilfred Genee and in 2012 (as "Nederland is helemaal oranje", a song about the Netherlands national football team recorded specially for UEFA Euro 2012). Cox's version has also seen a number of straight covers, including a 2019 version by Dries Roelvink and a 2020 single by Harten.

Johan Derksen

recorded a Hebrew version שלום לך ארץ נהדרת (Shalom Lach Eretz Nehederet, "Hello Wonderful Country") in the seventies. The lyrics by Ilan Goldhirsch describe the beauty of Israel.

Yehoram Gaon

wrote Finnish lyrics "Hyvää huomenta Suomi" ("Good morning Finland"), which was a domestic hit for the band Karma in 1976 and Matti Esko in 1989. The lyrics describe a semi-trailer truck driver moving cargo over night to his destination. To get a genuine atmosphere for the lyrics, Juha Vainio told that he spent one night sitting in a truck-drivers' roadside canteen while interviewing the drivers about common sayings and doings of the trade.

Juha Vainio

Norwegian folk singer recorded "Liten Og Grønn" ("Tiny and Green") for his 1981 album Barkebille Boogie. The lyrics is about the life of a Widerøe Twin Otter airplane.

Øystein Sunde

The band lv:Čikāgas piecīši (Chicago Five) recorded a Latvian version "Pazudušais dēls" (Lost Son) in 1975.

Latvian-American

singer Björgvin Halldórsson recorded a version with his band Brimkló for the 1976 album Rock 'n' roll, öll mín bestu ár. The Icelandic lyrics, "Síðasta sjóferðin" (The Last Journey), were written by Þorsteinn Eggertsson.

Icelandic

Slovenian Tomaž Domicelj|sl released "Vlak na jug" ("Southbound Train") on his 1979 album 48; the lyrics keep to the original in spirit but leave out details and the chorus opens "Zdravo, . kako si?" (Hello, Yugoslavia. How are you?).

Jugoslavija

made a punk rock version of the song in the album Rake It In: The Greatestest Hits, released in 2017.

Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies

On September 5, 2005, and the Coral Reefer Band closed their Labor Day weekend performance at Wrigley Field with the song; Buffett referenced the ongoing impact of Hurricane Katrina and dedicated the song to the people of New Orleans and the wider Gulf Coast region.^[18] In May 2006, Buffett opened his set with the song at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival following Hurricane Katrina.^[19]

Jimmy Buffett

The 2004 album Sings America opens with a cover of City of New Orleans, using Goodman's original lyrics.

David Hasselhoff

Canadian singer has covered the original version of the song in both English and French.

Roch Voisine

performed the song as part of a medley during the halftime show for the NFL's Super Bowl X. The songs "Take Me Home Country Roads", "Philadelphia Freedom", and "200 Years and Just A Baby" were also part of the medley.

Up With People

List of train songs

List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States

at the Wayback Machine (archived October 20, 2006)

Original lyrics

at the Wayback Machine (archived November 21, 2006)

Arlo Guthrie cover lyric version

Classic Tracks: Arlo Guthrie's "City of New Orleans"

"Derailing ‘City of New Orleans’" (Chicago Sun-Times, Nov 19, 2007) - Regarding John Denver's version and Arlo Guthrie's objections to it